Coastal New England

Welcome to New York City! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. this afternoon to answer any questions. Settle in and perhaps head out and start exploring the ‘City That Never Sleeps' with its world-famous shopping and restaurants that represent a melting pot of nearly 100 different international cuisines.

Take a city tour of the Big Apple to see iconic sites like the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Wall Street, and Times Square. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore this exciting city on your own. Perhaps visit one of the many world-class museums, see Chinatown, stroll in Central Park, or take in a Broadway show.

Depart the city and drive north through Connecticut stopping in the historic seaport of Mystic, a charming village situated on the Mystic River, where over 600 ships were built dating back to 1784. Then cross into Rhode Island, the smallest of the 50 United States, to Newport, known as the ”sailing capital of the world.” Enjoy time for an optional harbor cruise or take a step back in time to America's Gilded Age with an optional excursion to The Breakers, the opulent 70-room crown jewel of the Newport Mansions and summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Overnight in nearby Middletown.

This morning, travel Newport's Ten Mile Drive for spectacular ocean views past gorgeous 19th-century mansions, seven of which are designated National Historic Landmarks. Enjoy free time for lunch before heading north into Massachusetts, a state rich with history. Stop in New Bedford and visit the Whaling National Historical Park to learn about the world's preeminent whaling port during the 19th century. Continue to Plymouth and see Plymouth Rock, where the Mayflower Pilgrims first landed in 1620 to establish the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

Today, drive to the old fishing port of Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod, now an eclectic seaside town. Browse the colorful shops and art galleries of Commercial Street and enjoy some local seafood amid the beautiful ocean views. Take home a whale of a tale on an optional Whale Watching Cruise for the opportunity to see humpbacks and other species of whales and dolphins. If you prefer dry land, consider taking an optional Sand Dune Tour for a drive through National Seashore Park and learn about the fascinating history and ecology of the Provincetown Dunes.

Head north to Maine and the historic maritime city of Portland with its famous Old Port waterfront lined with working fishing wharves and converted warehouses. Stroll the cobblestone streets lined with shops and restaurants. Perhaps take the opportunity to stop for a favorite local specialty—the Maine Lobster Roll. Then on to the resort town of Kennebunkport, summer home of the Bush family, before an overnight in nearby Ogunquit.

Start this morning with a stop at the iconic Nubble Lighthouse before continuing to Boston, the largest city in New England and a city of firsts: the first public school, first public transit system, first municipal library, first public park and more. See historic sites like the Old State House, the Freedom Trail, and the Old North Church, where Paul Revere got the signal to start his famous ride.

Stop by Faneuil Hall and visit Quincy Market and perhaps try some Boston Baked Beans, Boston Cream Pie or a bowl of New England Clam Chowder. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore this city rich with history, culture, sports, and great food!

Your vacation ends this morning.